Creation and the image of God
About this date: Undated; do not read a plotted date into Genesis 1–11.
Genesis opens with God as Creator and humanity made in His image. This is theological prehistory, not an event assigned a BCE year.
Historical context
Genesis introduces the relation between God, humanity, and the created world before turning to Israel's ancestors. The shared human vocation in the opening chapter and the garden narrative establish themes developed throughout Scripture.
Key points
- Humanity is described as male and female in God's image.
- The garden account connects human life with cultivation, responsibility, and limits.
- The blessing of the seventh day places rest within the opening account.
People
- Adam
- Eve
Scripture
- Genesis 1–2 — Genesis presents God as creator of the world and humanity in God's image, then tells of Eden and human vocation.
Sources and further reading
- Genesis 1:26–2:25 (King James Version)
Human vocation, rest, and life in the garden. - USCCB introduction to Genesis
Literary and historical introduction; retained from the original record.